Premier Alex Scott last night called on his party to rally together to help to implement his Government?s ?Social Agenda? as he opened the Progressive Labour Party?s annual conference.

Friday?s Throne Speech will contain the ?early seeds of the all encompassing Social Agenda which, he said addresses sustainable development, economic empowerment, housing, a ?well educated and skilled workforce?, seniors, youth development a ?civil and law abiding country? and an ?improved quality of life.?

And the Premier announced the imminent formation of the Bermuda Independence Commission which will help Cabinet to launch ?the most comprehensive series of meetings, discussions and presentations on the subject of Independence that Bermuda has ever experienced?.

He said: ?We ascertain that some day, should our discussions in Bermuda lead to the lowering of one standard and the raising of our own colours, we may be left with a continued relationship with the United Kingdom.

?However, even with that decision, it will be clear that this relationship will have been adjusted from one of Constitutional dependency to one of mutual respect between equals who have respective interests sustained by new protocols and agreements.?

The Premier told party delegates that he accepted the challenge of leading the party from strength to strength when he became Party Leader.

?I assure you that job is not undone. That job is the successful implementation of the ?social agenda?.

?While it is a job led by me, it is one that is achieved by each and every one of you.?

In a wide ranging speech, which touched on social issues such as housing and the needs of seniors, Mr. Scott urged the membership to ?take the message of the social agenda to the various constituencies and then to the doorsteps of every parish?.

The Premier added that he hoped the rest of the Bermudian community will embrace the Social Agenda and develop other initiatives for building a better society.

?It is expected that the churches, unions, workmen and sports? clubs, businesses (both local and international), Bermudians and residents of good will must simultaneously be involved as we work to build a better Bermuda together,? Mr. Scott said.

?We will set the pace and those who are considered less fortunate will also be expected to join in, learn, experience true unity and brotherhood, or Party, and build in the interest of all of us and of Bermuda, the country we cherish and hold so very dear.?

He said that the seeds of the ?social agenda? had been planted by the party?s central committee and that each Minister had spent ?considerable time identifying elements in our society that may have become barriers to our ability to pave the way for a promised ?New Bermuda?.?

The Social Agenda ?dictates that our people must be adequately housed, employed, educated and trained to be able to cultivate, expand and fully participate in and benefit from our strong economy,? he said.

?Also it must ensure that our people live in a just and fair society, where law and good order are a commonality rather than a rare commodity.?

Schemes had been developed for every aspect of the housing problem, he said.

?This need is not only for the homeless as we recognise them but it?s for some of our family members, our brothers and sisters who live on the fringe of society, and, most assuredly, our seniors.?

?Modular or emergency? housing will be available for urgent needs and ?transitional housing? will be provided for those who need short term housing and a helping hand.

?But he said Government will be providing a ?hand up? not a ?handout?.

?You?ll have to earn it because there will be other brothers and sisters who are going to need that facility,? Mr. Scott said.

On seniors the Premier said that every aspect of the challenges faced by Bermuda?s elders was being addressed.

?The challenge will be to ensure that no one is left behind. Everyone must have the opportunity to share ? in a tangible way ? in the success that is derived from the country?s overall prosperity,? he continued.

?This is important to all countries, but more so to Bermuda, where its is a traditional expectation that the Labour Government will speak and act on behalf of those who have no voice or as it may appear those who have been forgotten, and left behind.?

He stressed progress on the Social Agenda will be seen in a relatively short period of time but it will take longer, probably up to a decade to transform the social landscape of Bermuda.

And he warned Bermuda?s economy was nearing its saturation point. ?Unprecedented rates of growth and development have resulted in Bermuda nearing the saturation point, as environmental and social costs are beginning to outweigh the benefits of economic prosperity,? he said.

?Central Committee expressed concern that the success of one sector of our community was reflected in a negative way on those who lived on the periphery of an unbalanced economy. It is here that our all encompassing cross-ministry initiatives called the Social Agenda form a junction with the concept of sustainable development in order to protect and apportion Bermuda?s growth and economy in a manner that will more directly benefit us all.?